Category: Former Steelers

Ex-Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster finds new NFL home

Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster reunited with the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that he won a Super Bowl with.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has reunited with the Kansas City Chiefs, a team on which he won a Super Bowl in 2022.

Smith-Schuster, 27, originally signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs as a Steelers free agent and logged 78 catches for 933 yards and three touchdowns. That production earned him a three-year, $33 million contract with the New England Patriots in the ensuing offseason, only to produce some of the worst marks of his career in an injury-riddled 11-game 2023 season.

The Chiefs are not known for rostering premier pass-catchers, so Smith-Schuster joins an unpredictable receivers room of 2023 rookie standout Rashee Rice (a suspension candidate for role in a high-speed offseason car crash), Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (recovering from a shoulder injury) and first-round rookie Xavier Worthy.

Steelers fans had a love-hate relationship with Smith-Schuster, a second-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2017. At times, he seemed to care more about his brand than the Black and Gold. Smith-Schuster’s peak season came in 2018 (while Antonio Brown was still a member of the Steelers) with 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Ex-Steelers RB Anthony McFarland finds new NFL home

Former Steelers RB Anthony McFarland was signed by the Dolphins.

We knew it wouldn’t be too long before Anthony McFarland was snapped up by a team desperate for running back depth.

According to the NFL transactions report, the Dolphins have inked the former Pittsburgh Steeler after the injury bug hit their running back room.

Until joining the Dolphins, the Steelers were the only NFL team that McFarland knew. McFarland, selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft, spent most of the 2023 season on injured reserve and finished on the practice squad.

McFarland, 26, then signed with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas and was coached by Steelers legend Hines Ward.

During his time in Pittsburgh, McFarland appeared in 17 games, logging 233 all-purpose yards.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

WR Chase Claypool placed on injured reserve ahead of Steelers-Bills preseason matchup

In a surprise move, the Bills placed former Steelers WR Chase Claypool on injured reserve.

Pittsburgh Steelers fans were going to get their first glimpse of Chase Claypool versus his former team on Saturday. But in a surprise move, the Buffalo Bills placed Claypool on injured reserve, ending his season before it began.

Claypool, 26, was initially described as day-to-day with a toe injury suffered on July 29. He’d been nursing it on the sideline for most of training camp.

The Steelers’ former second-round pick signed with the Bills in May after splitting the 2023 season between the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins.

Claypool would hit the open market should the Bills opt to release him from injured reserve with an injury settlement.

I hear the Steelers are thin at wide receiver.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Former Steelers WR James Washington reunites with Ike Hilliard in Atlanta

Former Steelers WR James Washington has agreed to terms with the Falcons.

During all the talk of free agents who could come to the Pittsburgh Steelers, James Washington‘s name never came up.

Now he’s on his way to Atlanta, with NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reporting that Washington agreed to terms with the Falcons.

Washington will reunite with his former Steelers receivers coach Ike Hilliard, who is now in the same position with the Falcons.

Washington logged 1,629 yards and 11 touchdowns on 114 catches with the Steelers from 2018 to 2021.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Are Steelers desperate enough to reunite with WR JuJu Smith-Schuster?

In their quest for wide receiver depth, JuJu Smith-Schuster is another former player who it could make sense for the Steelers to give a call.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been known to reunite with players in the past — James Harrison and, most recently, Cameron Sutton, come to mind.

In their quest for wide receiver depth, JuJu Smith-Schuster is another former player who it could make sense to give a call.

Though none are substantiated, there are rumblings that Smith-Schuster could be in danger of being released from the New England Patriots this summer.

The seven-year veteran logged just 260 yards and a touchdown in his first season with the Patriots. But, let’s face it, that entire offense was a bit of a clown show (no offense to clowns).

Are the Steelers desperate enough to reunite with Smith-Schuster should his time in New England come to an end? My thought is no. It seems he no longer has the juice to be a No. 1/No. 2 receiver, which Pittsburgh truly needs. He’d likely just be lumped in with Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson and Quez Watkins. And it’s doubtful Smith-Schuster would be satisfied in a situation like that.

If Smith-Schuster shows signs of life during training camp, the Patriots will likely keep him around, hoping he bounces back in their new offense. New England signed Smith-Schuster to a three-year deal in 2023, which carries a dead cap hit of nearly $10 million if he’s cut.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Ex-Steelers DL Isaiah Buggs charged with second-degree burglary/domestic violence

3 weeks after ex-Steelers DL Isaiah Buggs was charged with animal cruelty, he’s back in hot water again.

Three weeks after former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs was charged with animal cruelty, he’s back in hot water again. According to the Tuscaloosa Patch, Buggs was charged with second-degree domestic violence and burglary on June 16, and his bond was revoked on Monday.

Patch sources state that “the incident allegedly involved a physical altercation between Buggs and an ex-girlfriend.”

Selected by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft, Buggs played three seasons in Pittsburgh and two for the Detroit Lions. In January, he signed with Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.

Buggs, 27, signed a reserve/future contract with Kansas City in the offseason.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Ex-Steelers CB Steven Nelson calls it a career

Ex-Steelers CB Steven Nelson has called it a career after nine years in the NFL. 

Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson has called it a career after nine years in the NFL.

Selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft, Nelson came to Pittsburgh as a free agent in 2019. He had a solid two-year run in the Black and Gold, compiling three interceptions, 33 passes defended, two fumble recoveries, and 109 total tackles.

Nelson asked to be released in the spring of 2021, and after attempting to find a trade partner, the Steelers granted his request. He spent one season with the Philadelphia Eagles before closing out his career with the Houston Texans.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Arrest warrant issued for ex-Steelers CB Cameron Sutton

The Hillsborough County, Florida, sheriff’s office issued a warrant for the arrest of ex-Steelers CB Cameron Sutton. 

On Wednesday, the Hillsborough County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant for the arrest of former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton.

Sutton is wanted on a charge of aggravated battery/domestic violence by strangulation, a third-degree felony.

According to Alan Saunders of Steelers Now, prior to the warrant, Hillsborough County court records show only a pair of traffic citations for Sutton.

Sutton, a 2017 Steelers third-round pick, signed a three-year, $33 million deal with the Detroit Lions in 2023. He started 17 regular-season games and three playoff games, recording games recording 57 tackles (five for loss), an interception, forced fumble and six passes defended.

Sutton played six seasons in Pittsburgh, working his way up to full-time starter in 2021.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

 

Bud Dupree opens up about potential reunion with Mike Tomlin, Steelers

Ex-Steelers EDGE Bud Dupree would love to reunite with Mike Tomlin.

Since the 2021 season, it’s been the T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith Show on the edge of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense.

But a familiar name popped up recently as a guy who would like to return to Pittsburgh: Bud Dupree. If the opportunity presented itself, the free agent would like to give Watt and Highsmith a helping hand.

“For sure,” Dupree said in an interview with Ron Lippock, author of “Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades.”

“If the opportunity came up. Definitely. It’s a great organization and Tomlin – he is who he is. The standard is the standard – for sure, I’d go back.”

There were rumblings of a potential reunion last offseason and the Steelers even brought him in for a visit. Instead, Dupree signed on with the Atlanta Falcons, coached then by Steelers new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

In his time away from Pittsburgh, Dupree has logged 13 sacks, 74 tackles (16 for loss), four defended passes, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 25 quarterback hits in 38 games (33 starts).

That sounds like a guy who’d be perfect to rotate in — something we suggested last month. Of course, the Steelers have newcomer Jeremiah Moon and second-year player Nick Herbig, who are also ready to answer the bell.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Ex-Steelers FB Derek Watt calls it a career

Former Steelers FB Derek Watt retired from the NFL this morning after seven seasons.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers Derek Watt called it a career on Tuesday, retiring after seven seasons in the NFL — four with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, three with the Steelers.

The fullback retires with 29 total carries, 71 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, 18 receptions, 178 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.

In his two-slide retirement letter posted to social, he thanked his wife and family, with a separate shout-out to his big brother J.J. Watt and little brother T.J. Watt.

The middle Watt never rose to the incredible level of J.J. and T.J. production-wise, but the fact that they took the field together in the National Football League is something to forever be cherished.

To JJ and TJ: From playing in the backyard to sharing a field in the NFL, this journey together has been absolutely incredible. They say if you want to be great, then you should surround yourself with greatness… you both have pushed me to be the best that I could be and it’s been so special to see all the hard work that we put in and sacrifices that we made pay off!

To the Chargers and Steelers: I can’t thank the Spanos family and the Rooney family enough for the opportunities that you provided me with! It was an honor to be a part of and represent 2 great organizations.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]